PARSIPPANY — A pregnant mother, her two sons and father-in-law had to flee their smoky, burning Powder Mill section home Tuesday morning.

"This is my son's family," said Anvar Nazirov outside his home at the corner of Manor Lane and Skyview terrace as residual smoke and steam rose from the roof. "He was at work. He is on his way."

No damage was visible from outside the expanded Colonial home, where the fire is believed to have started in the basement shortly after 9:30 a.m.

Nazirov was in the kitchen when the smoke alarm went off and the home began to fill with smoke. His first thought was to evacuate his grandsons and daughter-in-law, who is due to give birth next month.

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"They were in the bedrooms, awake, I believe," he said. "Smoke was coming from the basement. I don't know how it started. I didn't look. I got them out."

Firefighters from the neighboring Mount Tabor Fire Company took the lead on a multi-town response that included the Lake Parsippany, Lake Hiawatha, Cedar Knolls, Whippany, Denville and other Parsippany fire companies.

Mount Tabor Deputy Chief Steve Herrmann said once the responders were able to track down the source, they made quick work of extinguishing the fire.

"There was visible heavy smoke coming form both sides of the house when we pulled up," Herrmann said. "It took us a little while to find the fire because there was a lot of smoke, and a lot of heat, but really no signs of fire. When we did find it, it was in the basement."

Herrmann did not speculate on the source of the fire, saying municipal and Morris County authorities were on the scene to investigate.

Police closed the corner for several hours to clear it for the response and investigation.